LA Delta Sigma Theta Leader and Attorney Kemba Niambi Miles Dies at 51
Kemba Niambi Miles, an attorney, community servant, and immediate past president of the Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, died on December 27, 2025. She was 51.
Born on April 7, 1974, in the Bronx, New York, Miles moved to Los Angeles as a child, where she would spend most of her life building deep ties to community, faith, and service. Those who knew her describe a woman who led with intention, preparation, and a steady sense of responsibility to others.
Miles earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, a historically Black university whose values of excellence and service shaped her professional and personal path. She later received her Juris Doctor from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where she was active in national leadership and public service efforts focused on justice and community advocacy.
A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Miles was initiated through the Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter and later served as the chapter’s 44th president. In that role, she was entrusted with guiding one of the sorority’s largest and most visible chapters, leading with care for both legacy and future leadership. Her tenure was marked by organizational discipline, service-centered programming, and a deep commitment to sisterhood.
“I stand with a heart that is both heavy and deeply grateful,” said current Delta Sigma Theta Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter President Wilda Tillman. “Kemba was more than a leader, she was a torchbearer who carried our chapter with courage, honesty, and love. She led with strength, but always with heart.”
Tillman continued, “Kemba challenged me, supported me, and believed in me—sometimes before I fully believed in myself. She had a way of speaking truth with grace and reminding us of who we are and whose we are. Her love for Delta and for this chapter was undeniable. Though she no longer walks beside us, her light still leads us. I will carry her wisdom, her laughter, and her legacy with me always.”
Beyond her legal and organizational work, Miles was also a creative and entrepreneur. Through Niambi Productions, she produced graphic design that centered Black stories and cultural representation. She was also the founder of Kemba’s Kitchen, a vegan catering service that reflected her belief in wellness, intention, and nourishment as acts of care.
Faith anchored Miles’ life. A lifelong member of First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles, she served in multiple ministries and leadership roles over several decades, contributing to both spiritual life and community development efforts connected to the church.
“Kemba Miles was an incredible soul with a warm, compassionate spirit,” said Reverend Ann Champion Shaw. “Truly, she will be missed.”
Sarah Allen Women’s Missionary Society President Angela Adams added, “She served as my first vice president while also chairing the Fitzgerald Simpson Unit, carrying both roles with commitment and grace. During the height of the pandemic, when everything we knew about how to gather and serve was suddenly disrupted, she worked closely with me to reimagine what was possible. Together, we organized our very first virtual Annual Women’s Missionary Day—something we had never done before and had no roadmap for. In a moment of uncertainty, Kemba helped lead us forward, learning as we went, and ensuring that our mission and our connection to one another did not stop. She was just an incredible woman”
Miles was also active with the National Council of Negro Women, View Park Chapter, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Hawaiʻi, extending her service beyond Southern California.
“Kemba was a loving and giving person,” said her mother Vivian Hines. “She truly loved the Lord, her community, and her village. She always tried to do the will of God in her life, and she took that calling seriously.”
Ms. Hines continued, “She loved leadership and stepped into it naturally, and in everything she did, she excelled. Kemba had a way of uplifting others, showing up when she was needed, and leading with both strength and kindness. She was a beautiful daughter to me—a blessing, a joy, and a source of great pride. I thank God for the time He allowed me to have with her, and for the love she poured into so many lives.”
Her cousin Jasmyne Cannick added, “Losing my cousin Kemba has been devastating. She was a woman of deep faith, purpose, and service, and she lived her values every single day. Our family is heartbroken, but we are grateful for the love she poured into so many lives and the legacy she leaves behind.”
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Miles. She is survived by her mother, Vivian Hines, along with extended family, sorors, colleagues, and a wide community who knew her as a woman who showed up, followed through, and served with purpose.
Kemba Niambi Miles leaves behind a legacy rooted in service, faith, and leadership. Her impact is carried forward in the institutions she strengthened, the communities she supported, and the lives she touched along the way.
Services for Miles will be held at First African American Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles on Fri. Jan. 16 at 11 a.m. A public viewing is scheduled for Thu. Jan 15 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Angeles Funeral Home.
